An injury to the teeth doesn’t happen often to regular folks. However, the stats are high for those in sports, where there’s always the possibility of falling and bumping into things and other people. Dr. Farhat shares his solutions for tooth and nerve trauma.

Athletes are quite prone to tooth and nerve trauma; they can chip or break their teeth, dislodge the teeth, completely lose a tooth, or have a tooth hit so bad, it turns a sick grey color. For such an injury, an endodontic treatment is required.

There are different types of endodontic treatments that Dental One Care offers. You have a simple root canal therapy for teeth with infected pulp due to cavities, and endodontic surgery for complex dental issues.

Different Types of Tooth and Nerve Trauma, Plus Treatment

For all types of tooth and nerve trauma, an endodontist would have to examine the injury thoroughly first. It will involve taking radiographs (or x-rays) to get the full picture of the teeth and surrounding bone structures. After the extent of damage is established, the repair will commence.

A small chipped tooth will be filled with a tooth-colored filling. Meanwhile, a crown fracture will receive a root canal treatment, especially if the patient feels intense pain. Afterwards, a crown will be placed to secure the hollowed tooth. For split teeth or a vertical fracture, tooth extraction is usually the best solution.

Knocked-out teeth

Knocked-out teeth are a dental emergency. It’s imperative to save the teeth and get the patient to the dentist as soon as possible. The dentist will put the tooth back in its original place and support it with a splint. And depending on the stage of root development, the endodontist may perform a root canal treatment, which will eventually be followed by the application of permanent root canal filling.

As for luxated teeth, wherein teeth either get pushed up into their socket or partially knocked out of their socket, time is also of the essence. Make the trip to the dentist right away so he can reposition the teeth and stabilize them with a splint.

Root Canal Treatment

Just like with knocked-out teeth, a root canal treatment may be necessary as well for luxated teeth, but it will involve the application of calcium hydroxide inside the tooth. After a few weeks, root canal filling will be placed.

If the root has been fractured, a stabilization splint is also the solution dentists use.

Success in treating tooth and nerve trauma relies so much on promptness and post-treatment care. Timely treatment is an absolute must, and it should be followed by proper care of the injured teeth and consistent oral hygiene.